Concierge staff staged a walk-out at Fairmont Southampton Resort to protest what they claim is the unfair appointment of a non-Bermudian to a top post ahead of a qualified Bermudian.

Five members of the concierge team walked out to make a point to the hotel management yesterday afternoon.

A meeting between hotel manager Allan Trew and the Bermuda Industrial Union?s hotel shop steward is due to take place today to discuss the concierges? grievance.

Assistant chief concierge Debbie Forde led her team out of the hotel, claiming she was denied promotion to the post of Royal Service and Concierge Manager despite applying for the position for which she says she is fully qualified, in favour of a non-Bermudian.

However, hotel manager Mr. Trew, a Bermudian himself, said the job application procedure had been carried out correctly and it was felt Ms Forde did not have all the attributes to take on the role of both head concierge and manager of Royal Service.

Ms Ford, who has worked in the concierge department of both Fairmont hotels since 1999 and been assistant chief concierge at the Southampton hotel since 2004, said: ?I was told that I was not strong enough and that I had walked into the office and told them that. I had a short interview with the hotel manager. The manager called me back and said he did not feel I was strong enough to run the two departments.

?I want everyone in Bermuda to know what is happening at the hotel. I want to let the management to know what they have done is wrong.?

She said the decision to ?down tools? with a walk-out, albeit for a short time, was taken to show hotel management that she and her colleagues are serious about their unhappiness over the appointment being given to someone from overseas.

One of her colleagues, Bermudian Jamie Lovell, said he also felt qualified enough to take on the dual role that had been given to a non-Bermudian. Mr. Trew said he was not aware that Mr. Lovell had actually applied for the position.

Other members of the concierge team explained why they had joined the temporary walk-out. Abijah Samuels said: ?The situation is not correct. They have overlooked a Bermudian who is capable of filling the position in order to bring in someone who is not from this country.?

And Curlene Lightbourne said: ?I?m here for the guests, but I can?t give 100 percent because I have all this bubbling up inside.?

Manager Mr. Trew said he intends to discuss the situation with a Bermuda Industrial Union shop steward today.

He said Ms Forde had been told that she ?did not quite meet the qualifications that were needed.?

Mr. Trew explained: ?I made it clear she has the wherewithal to be the concierge manager, but the thing that was lacking was the development of the Royal Service area.?

The Royal Service is a ?behind-the-scenes concierge service? which runs in addition to the normal concierge service.

?The Royal Service deals with requests of all types from room guests and ensures that the appropriate action is taken to satisfy the guests? wishes and to follow up that everything has been done to their satisfaction.

At the Fairmont Southampton, the one-stop Royal Service has been in operation for the past three or four years but is ?not where we want it to be,? according to Mr. Trew.

He said Ms Forde had not been heavily involved in Royal Service and he had made it clear that the hotel needed to focus attention to get the Royal Service up to expected levels.

Mr. Trew added: ?I have spoken with the shop steward and we are getting together on Tuesday when I?ll find out what the concerns are. I?m optimistic we will get everything sorted out soon.?